imaizumi



T. IMAIZUMI.

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, l9l8- Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Fig.1.

INVENTOR T atsujir-m Imaizumi- T. IMAIZUMI.

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6,1918. 1,326,866. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- L 6 o O O INVENTOR T atsujiru Imaizumi- IMAlZUMI.

me RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 61 I918- Patented Dec. 30,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

aizuml.

INVENTOR T atsujiru Im rATsUJiRo IMeIzUM I, or S EATTL E, WASHINGTON.

L F -RAFT.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

immense... so, 1919.

Application filed November 6, 1918. Serial No. 261,357.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TATSUJIRO IMAIZUM I, a subject of the Emperor of Japamand resldent of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Rafts, of which, the following is a specification.

Myinventionrelates to life rafts. The object of my invention is to provide-an improved type of construction for life rafts, one which shall have great carrying ,capacity for its weight, which may be partially collapsed so as to take up but little room, and which, when in use, may provide protection against the occupants being washed away, and also to a considerable extent, protection from waves entering thereon in such. manner as to wet the occupants.

My invention consists of the novel features which will be hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claim. I

The accompanying drawings show the preferred manner of constructing a raft in accordance with my invention.

Figure 1 is a partial. plan view of the frame within which the flotation members are secured.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan or face view of the upper main frame, showing the reinforcing net and the canvas employed therewith.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective, the complete raft set up, or as it would be when in use.

Fig. 4 shows in perspective, the raft in its collapsed form, or as it would be while stored aboard ship.

Fig. 5 shows in perspective, a detail only of the side members which may be folded down against the frame when not in use and raised to a vertical position when in use.

The weight v carrying members of this raft consist of hollow cylinders or equivalent members, O, which are held in place within a frame, of which A represents one of the top bars and B one of the bottom bars. Such a frame is shown in partial plan in Fig. 1, together with the flotation members therein. These frames are secured together by vertical bolts or other suitable manner.

The form of raft shown is one having two long sides and at each end of the rectangle thus formed, two shorter sides forming a triangle. The outline of the raft is thus a six-sided polygon, elongated in one direc tion. The bars F, which form a part of the upper main frame, have secured thereto. a 'reinforcmg netting, preferably offwoven WllQSyOl small metal rods. This netting E is immediately beneath the bars F and beneath this netting is a layerof canvas.

In securing the canvas and the netting to 'the bars F, I prefer toemp loy bolts G,

having washers of some compressible material, as rubber, and also toemploy cement of some sort to make a tight joint, so that .therewill be no leakage because of using the bolts] I To eachside of the main body of the raft is secured aside piece consisting of a frame having thereon wire netting. Q and outside of this canvas D. This canvas is preferably also secured to the canvas which is beneath the floor so as to make a tight joint andthus prevent the ingress of water. y

The type of construction of the sides is illustrated in the perspective shown in Fig. 5. This side is typical of the others. The vertical bars S are secured by hinges P to the outer side barF of the frame which supports the floor. They may thus fold down when the raft is not in use. When turned upward they are'secured, as by hinge and pin connection such as shown at R, to the top marginal rails, of a top frame J which serves as a means forretaining the sides in position, adds rigidity to the structure and also serves in the mounting of mastsas is presently described.

Vith the sides thus raised and secured in place, the occupants of the raft are protected from the direct actions of the waves and would be saved from getting wet many fioor is secured two blocks N, which are pro-- vided with a hole, M, into which is stepped the lower ends of the mast L. These masts are also engaged in the notches of the bar H,

or in any other suitable manner secured relativethereto and are connected at their upper ends by a stay K. The upper ends of the mast are also stayed by ropes O wlnchextend downwardly and are secured to the itself, as by. means of the rings 1.

In this manner the lnasts are held sup; ported and may be collapsed withth'e sides when the raft is not in use. may serve for the installation of sails, or for supporting signals.

\Vhen not in use the would be col lapsed and would appear as shown in Fig. 4. When launchedthe sides would be raised and secured in place and the mast L might be put up at any time desired. Such a raft would take up but little storage space and would carry a very large load. Having the upwardly extending sides, which, being covered with canvas would keep out the water, theoccupants of the raft would be kept dry when otherwise they would become drenched. The raft is, therefore, much These masts closing flotation members, an upper frame conforming in shape to the base frame but, separate therefrom, sides pern'ianently hinged by their lower edges to the edges of the base frame adapted to fold against the base or to be raised to foriua-n inclosure, the

upper edges of said side having locking members cooperating with complementary members on the upper frame whereby the latter may be iiemovably locked on the sides when the latter are raised.

Signet at Seattle, lVashington, this 30th day'of October, 1918.

TA'rsUnRo IMAIZUMI. 

